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Drakonis 9:34 Dragon
Far and distant memories that never left Adrianne's mind surfaced again while Eleanor listened to her past life. Her first tragedy in a long line of sorrows surfaced as though it occurred yesterday. While such memories caused her pain, it was freeing to tell and share with another the pain Adrianne felt.
"And...I stayed there by his side until he breathed his last breath...I can hear him in my dreams sometimes," Adrianne recounted as she remembered Enchanter Bryant's lifeless, cold eyes staring off into the distance. A pained fate he endured, but he remained strong to the very end, "By the time Guinevere…" tightness overcame her voice as Guinevere's frightened eyes sprang to the forefront of her mind. Whether her friend lived or died she still didn't know, but those frantic eyes would be burned into her mind forever, "That's when I began to ponder the witch's words and if what she said was true"
"Did you ever tell anyone about what the witch said?" Eleanor asked after a moment's silence.
A faint and weary smile graced Adrianne's face at Eleanor's innocence, "I was half dead and on the verge of possession during that time. Who would've believed me?"
"What about the friend you told me about? He surely would've listened to what you had to say"
Adrianne remained silent. Perhaps Cullen would've believed her if she at least attempted to say something...or everything would've been worse if he hadn't believed her during that dark time. That time had past, however, and those pages of her story had been written. There was no use on dwelling on the what ifs.
"I'm sorry that you've had to deal with this all by yourself" Eleanor said as Adrianne silence answered for her, "I don't know if I would've survived. You have a strong will to live, Senior Enchanter"
Adrianne nodded as she pulled the covers up to her chin, "That's all I ever wanted...yet when I have these memories...these reminders of my past torments," Adrianne squeezed the covers in her hands, "I still remember them all as if I was there...as they were," her voice was faint, "I can hear them...and I feel everything again. Isn't it strange? Even mad?"
Eleanor shook her head, "No! It's not strange at all. You're not mad, Senior Enchanter you're haunted,"
"I suppose that's another way of putting it. Though, I doubt that's what the templars would believe," Adrianne admitted.
Eleanor reached up to her own face to wipe a tear that escaped from Adrianne's recount of the demons that still haunted her, "Well, I'm here now, so don't worry, big sis-I mean Senior Enchanter!" Eleanor smiled.
Adrianne's face softened. Big sister was something she had not been called in many years, "You called me big sister,"
Eleanor blushed, "Sorry, it came out before I caught myself"
Adeline would be around Eleanor's age, her birthday had passed only a month ago...her precious little sister, "I have a sister about your age. I haven't seen her in over ten years. I doubt she remembers me: she was very young when I was taken. Your sister is very lucky that you remember her," Adrianne smiled, "I would do anything to see my sisters and father just once,"
Before Eleanor could respond, the door opened to reveal another in need of a healer. His hands covered a swollen eye and his body was tense with anxiety. Adrianne felt a shiver go down her spine at the fear he possessed as they locked eyes.
"Alain, that looks like it really hurts!" Eleanor cried at Alain's bruised and battered eye.
The usually meek and timid mage stammered, "I-I it's-nothing...really. It...looks worse than what it is,"
"That doesn't look like nothing. What happened?! It looks as though someone roughed you up badly" Eleanor persisted.
Alain looked to and fro at the door as if he were debating whether to stay or leave. Eleanor's curiosity seemed to be making him uneasy, "I don't want any trouble. If you can find the healer, I would appreciate it,"
"I don't know...are you sure you don't want to talk about what happened, Alain?" Eleanor insisted as Adrianne stared at his face.
A dull ache in Adrianne's belly formed as the black and blue continued to hold her sight. A vague sense of familiarity crept up on her spine: Alain's uneasiness, his unwillingness to talk. It was clear as day: they were one in the same.
Alain shook his head quickly, "I just need a healer, please...I rather not talk"
Eleanor's eyes furrowed, but she nodded nonetheless and followed Alain's request. Adrianne and Alain sat in silence both avoiding the others gaze.
After an eternity of silence, Alain finally spoke, "Listen, I know what you want to say...I've said it to myself before a thousands times over," he turned to look at her in the eye and smiled with sorrow, "I can't, I just can't...look what happened to you when you tried to stand up to the templars. I don't want that to be me,"
Alain's words struck Adrianne in the heart. A tear slid down her cheek, as the ache in her belly moved to the wound his words caused her. All her life she wanted to help, and to lead by example. This wasn't what she wanted.
I can't do this anymore...I can't.
JOodlkosidosdis
Adrianne pondered over Alain's words as they repeated and echoed throughout her mind. She sat up in her bed as the weight of his words took a hold of her. It was frightening how terrified he was and how helpless he felt. If it were only her, Adrianne wouldn't have had thought another second about it.
However, this wasn't about her anymore. Everyday, horrors occurred all around them, and many turned a blind eye to the mages suffering. They had become complacent in their pain to the point that staying quiet was a preferable alternative. It wasn't justice, it was the reinforcement of an oppressive system.
Adrianne had been silent for so long, unwilling to fight. As tears ran down her face from the fear and terror she felt, the Circle burned in the back of her mind. Mages like Alain and her cried in background as their pleas for mercy were silenced.
The true battle began once the tears have dried, and for Adrianne, they had. Any tears Adrianne had left in her had dried the moment she saw Alain's face. She was tired of crying and waiting for change. The tower wasn't go to change no matter the tears she and the others shed.
From the beginning, Adrianne never wanted to change because of the actions of others. She wanted to remain true to her being, and to her heart. If she were clay, Adrianne wished to mold her own destiny and not be a pawn to the whims of this world. That was no longer the case: the world was an increasingly cruel place. Was she truly capable of standing aside as the destruction and oppression happened before her eyes?
Deep within herself Adrianne knew the answer: she must change to survive. There would be no more tears. Now was not the time for weakness...she must be strong. She had no choice.
Adrianne's thoughts were broken as the healer, Ellie entered the room. She didn't bother to look at her as she was consumed by her renewed resolve. Change was on the horizon, Adrianne could feel it in every bone in her body.
"I see you're sitting up that's always a good sign," Ellie commented as she took Adrianne's vitals.
'I don't want that to be me…'
"Senior Enchanter? Is something wrong?" Ellie asked.
Adrianne looked to her with determination in her eyes."Senior Enchanter?" Ellie repeated.
"I didn't want the Gallows to change who I was…"Adrianne gripped her covers as Alain's bruised and battered face gazed at her from within her mind. Anger and rage coursed through her veins like wildfire. No...never again did she want to see a face like that again. It was time for her weakness to come to an end. Enough was enough, "I was wrong. I must change...whether it is my destiny is to suffer or not, it doesn't matter," Adrianne tossed her covers aside and she swung her legs over the side edge of the bed. Her limbs were still weak but Adrianne stepped onto the floor anyway, "I'm not going to wait to die with the covers up to my chin ,"
Watching Alain's suffering, it awakened Adrianne's willpower and spirit. His fear and acceptance of the situation of the situation around him, it brought back that youthful defiance that defined her so long ago. Her need and will to protect her fellow mage and non mage alike returned with a vengeance.
"While that's all beautiful and inspiring, Senior Enchanter, what about your condition? You do remember what I said? Any undo stress could accelerate that timeframe and you will die. Do you understand that? This isn't a game Senior Enchanter," Ellie frowned.
Adrianne would not wait in her bed and accept her fate. No, she was going to challenge it until the bitter end. Her resolve and will to live returned to steel once again. She couldn't fail this time. Everyone: Enchanter Bryant, Guinevere, Wynne, her mother...and so many more depended on her. This time she wasn't going to give up.
"I've made my decision. I know it's dangerous, I know," Adrianne admitted as she remembered her condemned fate. She clenched her fists, "I won't stay back and wait to die as the Circle, the system that has raised and shaped who I am burns with the blood of my people. Nothing you say will deter me from what I've decided. If I die, so be it. I'm through being afraid,"
Adrianne began to limp toward the door, "Where are you going? I haven't released you yet" Ellie questioned.
Adrianne turned back to Ellie who stood waiting for an answer, "To train. It's been some time since I've been able to. Next time you see me, I won't be Healer Adrianne anymore," she straightened her back and stood higher and full of determination. She was a warrior through and through, "I'm going to be who I was meant to be: Knight Enchanter Adrianne,"
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" The shorter female smirked, "I see nothing I say willI change your mind, Knight Enchanter Adrianne" Ellie walked over to her desk and retrieved a notebook and plume, "There's no cure for this wasting illness from what I've read. The most well documented case was Queen Rowan. The moment I saw the symptons I knew your outlook was bleak," Ellie explained.
"However, I see difference with you. Perhaps, I could study you. I am the expert apothecary and alchemist here in the Gallows. I've been trying to develop better medicines for this sickness since Kirkwall took in the refugees from Ferelden. Unfortunately, many of them have died before I could even begin a trial. Your recent illness has given me new material to work from. I was afraid to bring this up earlier, as most lose the will to live. I theorized you would be the same but I was wrong about you...and I'm glad. We could try to test different poultices and attempt to slow the progression. If you are willing, we can begin from the what the alchemist notes left from Queen Rowan. We may not be able to cure you, I want to make that clear," Ellie paused to allow Adrianne to process what she had said, " but we can buy you some years of relative happiness should luck permit. Do you understand, Senior Enchanter?"
Years to live...that's all I want. What Ellie had said gave Adrianne feelings of hope that she hadn't felt in ages. The mere possibility of living longer was enough to keep her going.
Adrianne nodded," I understand, and I consent to your study. Thank you, Ellie" she smiled.
Ellie smirked, "Now go and train. I expect Knight Enchanter Adrianne to protect us all in no time at all,"
I will, I promise.
For the first in a long time, Adrianne smiled as she headed into her uncertain future.
I can do this.
Don't worry Adrianne! My plot armor will protect you ;) Hehehe
Hey guys! I'm finally on vacation from school! Sorry for the lack of updates. I was hoping my schedule this quarter would've allowed me to update more, sadly that was not the case. I'm back now, so that's all that counts!
I wanted to finish this story this summer to move onto other projects I want to get to, but seeing the progress I'm making, I don't think that will be the case. With that being the case, I will try to update once a week. Hopefully we'll be in the Mage Rebellion Arc soon by the end of the summer.
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! If you liked it enough or saw something that didn't seem right leave a review :)
Remember: you're awesome!
